Eldora, CO 2024-2025 Season

EMSC

EMSC

Well-known member
Not going to post tons of daily TRs but will throw some stuff up as warranted this year.

I do have more ski days since the Opening day TR I put up nearly a month ago. Lots of snow for this time of year, though not enough to really open anything yet. Lots of ski packing in places, wind removed all snow in some areas as usual, etc... Focus for the mtn has been mostly getting the beginner zone, terrain park, and now race trail ready (FIS races mid-Dec this year). And the past couple of days it finally warmed up too much to get much done snowmaking wise. Good thing snow and colder weather is only a couple days out at this point.

Crowds have been very manageable as central Colo has far more open terrain available for the moment.

Pre-Thanksgiving pics:
Image00001.jpg


Jolly Jug
Image00003.jpg


IP Liftline
Image00004.jpg


Thanksgiving morning pic :p
Image00008.jpg


Post Turkey pics:
Image00009.jpg


Note the ski packing on the pitches
Image00011.jpg


Ahhhh.... the Eldora Breeze...
Image00014.jpg


Mogul line on Jolly Jug's right side now...
Image00018.jpg
 
Eldora is in a somewhat weird spot for the moment where it was cold enough to get snowmaking completed on the trails to and from the backside, but no trails on the backside since it warmed back up to upper 30's daytime, mid 20's overnight for several days. So they opened the Corona chair to spread people out, but its a lot of flats going back and forth.

Heading to the backside (hard left at bottom of pitch, the chair you see is IP lift)
Image00003.jpg


Only a small amount of breeze in recent days (also known as 60mph+)
Image00006.jpg


Waiting game...
Image00001.jpg
 
Figured a couple of these pics are good enough for their own post.

Racing season is here (yay). 7am lift loads are a thing. FIS level races with fast racers but tiny field sizes. 4 race runs for two complete races and still done before 1p.

6:30a arrival in the moonlight
Image00007.jpg


Courses mostly set pre-sunrise....
20241216_071415.jpg


Very gusty winds to start the day, but slowly getting better as the day went along.
View from the SL start.
Image00013.jpg
 
After a week of new snow and cold, Eldora is finally looking a lot more like a western resort. 28" of new snow this week has finally opened some blue and black natural snow trails. Snowmaking has a ways to go on the backside (where wind is a huge factor on several trails). But at least temps are cooperating with highs recently at about 20F with winds 'only' at about 15-20mph.

I've finally switched to skis for Eldora, in part due to terrain now available and also to have ski legs (vs boarder legs) for Mustang coming up shortly.

Today was only 3" new and quite dense but very soft under foot. Moderate crowd on the frontside today vs yesterday's big crowds. Plenty of attention needed skiing natural snow trails but less rocks than I would expect (so far).

Soft bumps upper Corona
1000012234.jpg


Stay skiers left on most trails at Eldora... Both sunny and flurries at the same time all day today. Upper Ambush trail...
1000012236.jpg


Hard to believe they actually opened this super sketchy entrance to several trails (normally a snowmade entry). Better entry to the terrain is on opposite side of the 6pack.
1000012237.jpg
 
Weather impacting skiing in Colo this holiday weekend. From the Eldora morning report:

[snip]temperatures today will be downright frigid, and with west winds of 8–17 gusting to 28, wind chill values will be as low as -32F today. As we write, it's -4F in the base area, with a wind chill of -41F. If you dare to venture up today, bring a buddy who can watch you for cold injuries like frostbite and hypothermia, and make sure you are properly bundled up with no exposed skin. Please note that lift operations and other services may be affected by the extreme cold, so check this page early and often for the latest updates.[snip]
Click to expand...
 
From what I read, at least the Continental Divide region will be getting some snow while the rest of the West is parked under widespread high pressure for at least the next week and possibly longer.
 
Yes, Eldora has had 9" in 48hrs. Other front range is a bit less. Snowing a few more inches tonight, etc... Though with the bitter cold and some breeze the snow was very weird off groomers today. Super funky grippy, slow and grabby (yank your ski tips around kida stuff). Ironically not the best snow in spite of being new.
 
Forgot to mention in the earlier post this am that Eldora decided to shut 4 lifts today. Less than fully crowded, lifts with long rides and no lodge nearby, allows shorter turns of the staff standing outside etc...

Supposed to be colder tomorrow by another 5-10F before coming back up partway to reasonable temps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top